During today’s Xbox Developer Direct presentation, it was announced that Doom: The Dark Ages is set for release on May 15. The developer, Id Software, provided an extensive preview of the highly anticipated first-person shooter, revealing what they describe as a return to the franchise’s roots, drawing inspiration from the classic Doom.
The announcement of Doom: The Dark Ages first came at the Xbox Games Summer Showcase in 2024. This title serves as a prequel to the 2016 reboot of Doom but reimagines the gameplay within a medieval fantasy environment. While details had been scarce since its initial reveal, Id Software showcased a deeper exploration of the game’s design, featuring new weapons and gameplay mechanics.
Unlike Doom Eternal, which emphasized fast-paced mobility, The Dark Ages prioritizes raw power in its combat style. Id Software cites the original 1993 Doom as a major influence, suggesting a more grounded approach this time. As highlighted during the showcase, players will find that dodging enemy projectiles through strafing is a more effective tactic in this iteration. In a Q&A session prior to the reveal, Director Hugo Martin elaborated on how The Dark Ages connects with its predecessor.
“I spent more time playing classic Doom during this project than any before,” Martin shared in response to a question from Noclip. “We conducted a thorough deep dive. There’s always a deep dive at the start of each project, but I realized that the original Doom has endured because it’s one of the most accessible first-person shooters with single-player campaigns ever crafted. Its combat is elegantly streamlined, which is why it remains enjoyable even today. So, we focused on making it a more powerful and grounded experience compared to the acrobatic style of Doom Eternal. When I say it’s a return to form, it feels more like classic Doom than any of our previous titles.”

While the combat will feel familiar, The Dark Ages introduces significant innovations to the series. Among the new arsenal is the Shield Saw, which not only blocks and parries attacks but can also deflect them or be thrown at adversaries, reminiscent of Captain America’s shield mechanics. Players can now equip one of three melee weapons—a heavy flail, a mace, or an electrified gauntlet—all activated with a single button press. The glory kill system has also been revamped, allowing players to execute these finishing moves from various angles.
This upcoming title will also expand its accessibility features, enabling players to adjust game speed and other elements to suit their preferences.
In addition to its shooting mechanics and exploration, The Dark Ages will include bold new gameplay features. The Doom Slayer will get behind the controls of a towering 30-story Atlan mech and a dragon equipped with a Gatling gun. According to Id, these mechanics will not just serve as brief minigames; they will feature their own extensive boss battles.

As for the narrative, which begins with the Doom Slayer in captivity, Id Software envisions a storyline comparable to a blockbuster film, emphasizing dramatic set pieces and a deeper focus on story development. This time around, the plot will unfold more through cutscenes rather than lore text, although collectibles and codex entries will still be present. Martin cites inspiration from the Batman comic Batman: Year One in shaping this narrative direction.
“The inspiration was really the Batman comic Batman: Year One,” Martin stated in response to an inquiry from IGN. “My love for comic books, especially that particular narrative, informed how we constructed the Slayer’s backstory and mythology, which we internally referred to as the Slayer’s Testament. We even briefly called it Slayer: Year One during development.”
One absence in The Dark Ages will be multiplayer modes. Marty Stratton from Id confirmed that fan-favorite multiplayer elements were sacrificed to dedicate resources to the single-player experience.
“It’s campaign-only,” Stratton explained. “We decided on this from the outset. Our goal was to give ourselves the freedom to create elements like the Atlan and the dragon mechanics. These features are akin to mini-games within the game itself. We realized that players highly value our campaigns, so we focused solely on that to develop the largest and most exceptional Doom game we’ve ever produced.”
Doom: The Dark Ages is slated for release on May 15 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.